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Is screening for renal anomalies warranted in neonates with isolated single umbilical artery?
M L de Boom1, J E Kist-van Holthe, A Sramek
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, NL-2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Aim:
To determine the prevalence of renal anomalies in patients with an isolated single umbilical artery (SUA).
Methods:
We performed a retrospective study of all renal ultrasound examinations assessed at our centre between January 1998 and December 2008 in neonates with SUA with or without associated anomalies.
Results:
Renal ultrasound examination was performed in 65 neonates with SUA (57 neonates with isolated SUA and 8 neonates with nonisolated SUA). The prevalence of renal anomalies in the group with and without isolated SUA was 2% (1/57) and 38% (3/8), respectively. Only one patient with isolated SUA had a mild renal abnormality without clinical consequences.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of renal anomalies in neonates with isolated SUA is low. We suggest that routine ultrasound screening for renal anomalies is not warranted in neonates with isolated SUA.
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